Children's Home run by Hillcrest Children’s Services Ltd in Hampshire

Unique reference number SC012001 Inspector Bridget Goddard Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Hillcrest Childrens Services Limited Registered person address Langstone Gate Solent Road HAVANT Hampshire PO9 1TR Responsible individual William Mathew Crosby Registered manager Clifton James Soares / Rachel Jane Burgess Date of last inspection 17/02/2014 2 of 5 Inspection date 23/10/2014

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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This inspection

This home is one of two geographically close homes run by the same company. They are managed by the same Registered Manager. One home has had a major refurbishment, and the other is temporarily closed while it too is refurbished. This means that all young people are living in the refurbished home and all staff are working from there. This arrangement is a recent one, but has been thoughtfully planned and is working well. Young people know each other and still have familiar staff, their opinions have been listened to on décor, and they show pride in their newly updated home.

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This inspection

This home maintains their commitment to young people even when they have left. Staff are in contact with most young people, and on occasion have offered support to new carers. Young people have usually moved on positively to planned placements that have been assessed as more appropriate for example, moves to foster carers. Placement breakdowns or unplanned moves are rare in this home.

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This inspection

Young people's progress is well-monitored by care staff and by sound management systems. Young people have individualized targets linked to their care plan, and there are clear processes for assessing progress which appropriately involve young people. This system has proved effective in achieving positive outcomes, for example some young people are now much healthier than they were and others no longer use risky substances. All young people are in education or training and the home is highly effective at proactively supporting such arrangements so that they sustain.

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This inspection

Young people feel safe in this home and are kept safe by staff who are committed to achieving the best for them. Young people know this, and say,' you can just tell that staff actually care about you'. Staff are well-supported by both management and clinical supervision. This helps them understand what lies underneath any presenting 3 of 5 behaviour, and encourages them to develop strategies to deal with it.

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This inspection

The home has strong relationships with the Police and this helps them have effective and safe processes should young people go missing. Police are rarely called to the home because of behavioural incidents, and levels of physical restraint are low. Recording following such an incident is very detailed, but does not give sufficient information about the duration of a hold. This limits the effectiveness of management oversight of such incidents. However, overall the home has a strong everyday behaviour management system which focuses on rewarding positive, behaviour. This is clearly usually effective, and young people think it is 'fair'.

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This inspection

At the last inspection no requirements or recommendations were made. One recommendation is made as a result of this inspection. 4 of 5

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Information about this children’s home

A private organisation owns and manages this home. The home offers residential placements for up to six children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/02/2014 Interim good progress 10/10/2013 Full outstanding 04/12/2012 Interim good progress 12/06/2012 Full outstanding

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure that all records kept by the home are completed in line with regulations. This specifically relates to ensuring that records relating to incidents of physical restraint detail the duration of the particular hold. (NMS 21.2) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Recommendations

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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